RELIGIOUS HARMONY

“God is one. He is all-pervading, all-knowing and all-powerful. He is infinite. All human beings, all life and the entire universe are His creations. Nature is the manifestation of harmony, not conflict.”

All human beings seem to agree on the above concepts. Then, one man stands up and says:

“I know God more than others. His form is such and such; his name is such and such. If you do not agree, you are not my friend, even if you may not be my enemy. Those who subscribe to my view of ‘form and name’ will constitute a religion. That will be our religion. Those who belong to our religion will be saved, others will be damned”.

With some variations here and there, this is how religions come into being and are functioning. Each religion considers itself superior and sees other religions as threats to its existence.

These thoughts arise in the human mind. They can be modified. They need to be modified, for our peaceful co-existence.

The contradiction between our beliefs and practices is obvious. Resolving this conflict is easier than we imagine, if only we have the will.

This is what religion is about.

Recommended By Colombia

Institutionalizing religions and using them as stepping stones for worldly gains is what comes in the way of our unity and progress. Religious conflict seems to be the major threat to peace in this century. But it need not be.

This is age old wisdom, that all accept. This is what religions preach. But, when it comes to practice, our selfish interests get the better of us.

Let us re-iterate our common beliefs, the fundamental human beliefs:

“God is one. He is all-pervading, all-knowing and all-powerful. He is infinite. All human beings, all life and the entire universe are His creations. Nature is the manifestation of harmony, not conflict.”